Duties

Summary

The Antitrust Division is seeking to fill entry-level, trainee Paralegal Specialist positions in our Washington, DC Office. Paralegals within the Division perform legal duties in support of attorneys engaged in antitrust cases and matters.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The Incumbent serves as Paralegal Specialist, and as such:

• Performs factual research using evidentiary files, library reference materials, corporate records, private and governmental studies, computer databases, internet resources, and other pertinent sources to supply needed factual information for inclusion in memoranda, briefs, and similar documents.
• Assists Attorneys in preparing for and conducting interviews with investigative sources and prospective witnesses.
• Takes accurate notes during attorney proffers and witness interviews and prepares memoranda from those notes.
• Performs preliminary screening of electronic and hard copy substantive materials prior to review by attorneys; codes electronic documents and categorizes hard copy documents in accordance with case priorities.
• Assists technical support staff with the preparation and organization of electronic document review databases.
• Organizes and maintains tracking logs for all incoming and outgoing case-related material.
• Prepares and organizes charts, graphs, and other materials to be used as exhibits in court.
• Prepares tables of content, indexes, and tables of authorities for legal briefs, memoranda, and other such documents; reviews and researches citations, footnotes, textual references, and other entries for accuracy.
• Prepares routine correspondence.
• Travels to any off-site trials, grand jury sessions, or discovery locations and while there provides similar paralegal support as described above.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Please Note: Additional selections may be made from this announcement. Also, a writing sample and a combination of 3 to 5 business and academic references may be requested of individuals identified as best qualified, to be forwarded to the selecting official along with your application package, upon referral.

We place a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspective and encourage applications from all interested eligible candidates, including candidates from all ethnic and racial backgrounds, women, LGBT individuals, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
9

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to be considered for this position.
• You must undergo a pre-employment security investigation.
• You may be required to take and successfully clear a drug test.
• You must submit a complete application package by the closing date of this announcement.
• THE POSITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FILLED IMMEDIATELY BUT NO LATER THAN AUGUST 30, 2021. CANDIDATES WHO MAY QUALIFY BASED ON EDUCATION MUST HAVE COMPLETED THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS BY JUNE 30, 2021.
• You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• SELECTIVE SERVICE: All male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must have registered for the selective service (see http://www.sss.gov ). If selected for this position, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.
• DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• This is a full-time,14 month term appointment in the competitive service, eligible for inclusion in the bargaining unit that may be extended at the option of the agency.
• This is a non-supervisory term appointment, subject to a one-year trial period in accordance with 5 CFR 316.304.
• The Antitrust Division participates in the E-Verify program.
• When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval. https://www.ed.gov/
• Applications mailed using government postage and/or internal federal government mailing systems are in violation of agency and postal regulations and will not be accepted.

Qualifications

To qualify at the GS-07 level, applicants must demonstrate the qualifications listed below:

A. One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities. Examples of specialized experience include:

• Developing, authorizing or examining claims or applications that required resolving conflicting data and interpreting a body of laws, rules, regulations and policies;
• Preparing or reviewing contracts or other legal instruments for legal sufficiency and conformance with applicable laws;
• Selecting and analyzing information to determine the intent of statutes, treaties, and executive orders or legal decisions, opinions, and rulings; or investigating and analyzing evidence of alleged or suspected violations of laws or regulations; OR

B. One (1) full year of graduate level education; OR

C. A combination of education and experience; OR

D. Meet one of the following superior academic achievement provisions:

A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher for all completed undergraduate course work or for all courses completed in the last two full years of undergraduate work;

A GPA of 3.5 or higher for all courses in the major field of study, or those courses in a major completed in the last two full years of undergraduate work;

Rank in the upper one-third of a college, university, or major subdivision; or

Membership in a national honor society or successful completion of one full year of graduate level study.

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see https://www.ed.gov/.

Additional details regarding Superior Academic Achievement can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=estb

Applicants using any education to qualify MUST submit copies of college transcripts or a list of college courses taken that identify for each course the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade and grade-point received. An unofficial transcript is acceptable to qualify, but it must include your full name. If selected, you may be asked to submit an official transcript prior to appointment

Please Note: Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position as described below, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.

Education

Additional information

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp .

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over candidates from other agencies for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority over other applicants who are not employees of the Department of Justice if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp .
Veteran Preference: If you are entitled to or claim veteran preference (VP), you should indicate the type of veteran preference (5 or 10 points) you are claiming on your résumé. In order to determine your eligibility, you can find additional information at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/.

NOTE: To verify your veteran preference entitlement, please submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty; or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions. (1) If you are claiming 10-point preference, you must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 in addition to the supporting documentation required and identified on the reserves side of the SF-15, Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference. (2) If you are claiming 10-point DERIVED PREFERENCE as a relative you must submit Member Copy 4 of the veteran's DD-214, and an SF-15, Application for 10-point veteran preference, in addition to the supporting documentation required and identified on the reverse side of this form. If you fail to do so, you will receive consideration as a non-veteran.

Veterans Information: https://my.usajobs.gov/Veterans

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application will be evaluated and rated under DOJ's Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the basic qualifications for the position listed in this announcement. Please note: Basic qualifications will be determined based on a comparison of your resume against the quality and extent of experience or related education as reflected in the position requirements.

If you are found to be minimally qualified for this position, your resume and supporting documentation will be further assessed and compared to the responses of your occupational/assessment questionnaire. The numeric rating you receive will be based on your responses to the questionnaire. The score is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the competencies required for this position, and will determine the rank in which you place (Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Best Qualified). The "Best Qualified" candidates will be contacted to submit a job market paper or relevant writing sample prior to being referred for selection.

Candidates within the "Best Qualified" category who are eligible for veteran preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.

Your application will be further assessed based upon the following competencies:

Educational Background
Work Experience
Social Organizations
Mathematic Skills

If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully as errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness , National security

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package which includes:

1. Résumé or equivalent - Applicants will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of experience or related education as reflected in their résumé and cover letter. Applicants are encouraged to ensure work experiences, as represented in their résumé, clearly show the possession of knowledge of the subject matter pertinent to the position, and the competencies and technical skills to successfully perform the duties of the position. A cover letter is optional.
RESUME REQUIREMENTS: ALL APPLICANTS: you must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire. The federal government has very specific resume requirements. If you have not written a federal resume before, you may want to watch this Resume Writing Tutorial video on the USAJOBS YouTube channel , or read through a helpful Resume Writing FAQ on the USAJOBS Help Site to learn what details you should, and should not, include in your resume. A CV (curriculum vitae) may not contain enough information to meet these resume requirements.

• Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of each employer.
• For all types of work experience, you should indicate the start and end date (include month and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that your worked.
• Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).

2. Completed Assessment Questionnaire.
3. Transcript - If you are qualifying based on education, or a combination of education and experience, you must submit a copy of your transcript.
4. Documentation of eligibility for special hiring authorities (if applicable) to prove appointment eligibility. Examples include Schedule A disability letter, Peace Corps volunteer letter and:

Documentation of eligibility for CTAP and ICTAP (if applicable) - You must provide written notification of your eligibility for CTAP and/or ICTAP; your most recent Performance Appraisal, and your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.

Veterans Preference Documentation (if applicable) - If you are a discharged, non-disabled veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character discharge (Member Copy-4), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives .

• If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, and 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.

If you are a disabled veteran, Purple Heart recipient, or mother or spouse of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a completed SF-15 and all additional proof required by the SF-15, as applicable. If you don't have your Department of Veterans Affairs letter establishing proof of disability, you may request it online or call 1-800-827-1000.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.